Seth Petruzelli didn't know he was going to headline this weekend's EliteXC show, but it didn't take him long to show that he belonged in the cage against heavyweight sensation Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson.

30 Rock actor Alec Baldwin and Lynne Spears, mother of Britney and Jamie Lynn, have had their share of public family troubles. Now, both have books chronicling those rough times. USA TODAY dissects the essentials from each.

Change is the buzzword for fall, and not just in politics. Amid the bumper crop of upcoming albums, ears are trained on artists facing crucial career transitions. USA TODAY's music team looks at a dozen candidates whose new albums offer platforms for surges in critical and popular acceptance.

Despite last season's disruptive writers' strike, several of our favorite series managed to end spring in good stead, with cliffhangers and questions galore. USA TODAY tackles just a few as they spin forward into fall.

Kevin Riley will start the season opener at quarterback for California against Michigan State with former starter Nate Longshore expected to play as a reserve. Coach Jeff Tedford made the announcement about his quarterbacks after practice on Thursday. The Golden Bears open the season Aug. 30 at home against the Spartans.